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Engineered bacteria churn out cancer biomarkers

Scientists have commandeered simple, single-celled microorganisms - namely E. coli bacteria - and engineering them to explore the complex process of glycosylation and the functional role that protein-linked glycans play in health and disease.

Sep 16th, 2020

Researchers create better material for wearable biosensors

Biosensors that are wearable on human skin or safely used inside the body are increasingly prevalent for both medical applications and everyday health monitoring. Finding the right materials to bind the sensors together and adhere them to surfaces is also an important part of making this technology better.

Sep 16th, 2020

Novel virus-based colorimetric sensor can show true colors of airborne threats

Scientists employ genetically engineered viruses to produce intuitive color-coded sensors for detecting airborne chemicals.

Sep 11th, 2020

Tiny helpers turn waste into valuable materials

Microorganisms equipped with the genetic blueprints for certain enzymes act as sustainable chemical factories.

Sep 10th, 2020

Flipping light on-off turns bacteria into chemical factories

Working in E. coli, the workhorse organism for scientists to engineer metabolism, researchers developed a system for controlling one of the key genetic circuits needed to turn bacteria into chemical factories that produce valuable compounds such as the biofuel isobutanol.

Sep 9th, 2020

Engineers turn pineapple leaves into biodegradable aerogels for food preservation and wastewater treatment

When coated with specific chemicals, these biodegradable aerogels that can be used to keep fruits and vegetables for a longer period, and to remove toxic metals from wastewater, among a wide range of other applications.

Sep 8th, 2020

First 'plug and play' brain prosthesis demoed in paralyzed person

Stable recordings let brain and machine learning system build 'partnership' over time.

Sep 7th, 2020

Wool-like material can remember and change shape

Researchers have developed a biocompatible material that can be 3D-printed into any shape and pre-programmed with reversible shape memory.

Sep 4th, 2020

Researchers create neurons that can be integrated into human brain tissue

Scientists have demonstrated that neurons can be generated from skin cells of a human donor using a cellular reprograming technology. According to the obtained results, these neurons are able to integrate into human brain tissue when transplanted into a small piece of the brain from a human donor.

Aug 27th, 2020

Making enzymes fit for industrial applications

Researchers have developed new techniques for efficiently coupling bacterial enzymes to electrodes and also designed a hydrogen/oxygen biofuel cell based on a hydrogenase enzyme.

Aug 26th, 2020

Dyes from atmospheric CO2

Combined electrochemical-biotechnological processes provide a new way of using CO2 as a raw material for producing fuels and chemicals.

Aug 19th, 2020

New tools catch and release molecules at the flip of a light switch

Researchers developed a class of light-switchable, highly adaptable molecular tools with new capabilities to control cellular activities. The antibody-like proteins, called OptoBinders, allow researchers to rapidly control processes inside and outside of cells by directing their localization, with potential applications including protein purification, the improved production of biofuels, and new types of targeted cancer therapies.